The Influence of Creep Ageing on the Hardening Behavior and Microstructure of 7050 Aluminum Alloy

Abstract

The creep ageing process can have a significant influence on the mechanical properties of aluminum alloys. In the present work, microstructural analysis and mechanical testing were implemented to characterize the age hardening effect and microstructure evolution, and to investigate how the stress applied under creep ageing conditions can affect a material’s microstructure. The curves depicting yield strength in relation to creep ageing time suggested that the stress applied in creep ageing can result in a reduction of the strength of aluminum alloy 7050; the yield strength decreases with increasing applied stress. Microstructural analysis by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that by applying stress, the growth and coarsening rate of the Guinier-Preston (GP) zones and η′ precipitates can be sped up. Even after pure/creep ageing for 8 h, there are still some GP zones in the aluminum matrix, demonstrating that the GP zones’ nucleation is a continuous process.